Day 1:
Upon your arrival at Datong, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
- Datong: Datong is the second largest city in Shanxi, and is known as the coal capital due to its abundant coals powering the whole of Shanxi and other cities beyond. The city is one of China's most polluted, yet there are some relics worth a visit.
Day 2:
Enjoy a tour in this old region will bring you to Nine Dragon Screen, Huayan Temple, the Yungang Grottoes.
- Nine Dragon Screen: built in 1392, supposed to have offered protection to the mansion of the 13th son of the first Ming emperor, this screen is said to be the largest one of its type in China with 45.5 meters long and 8 meters high, 2 meters thick and 426 pieces of glazed tiles. In ancient times, the screen served as a barrier by keeping passers-by from peeping into the house and making visitors tidy themselves before meeting their hosts.
Huayan Temple
- HuayanTemple: named after the Huayan sect of Buddhism, built in the 11th century, it is one of the biggest temples in China. Thetemple is divided into two parts, the upper part with various halls, and the lower part which is smaller than the upper one but more interesting with 29 coloured clay figures made during the Liao Dynasty (907-1125AD) in its Bojiajiaocang Hall.
- Yungang Grottoes: a treasure-house of rare and splendid Chinese sculptures and that of ancient Buddhist art, located about 16 kilometers west of Datong. Built in compliance with the lie of the mountains, more than 1500 years ago during the Northern Wei Dynasty, it is one kilometer from east to west and the largest of its kind in China. The Grottoes consist of a series of 53 caves and over 51, 000 stone sculptures classified into three major categories. The stone carvings of the Grottoes, compactly structured, exhibit superb workmanship and a rich variety of themes.
Hanging Temple
Day 3:
The tour today will include HangingTemple, Qiao Family's Compound, Shuanglin Temple. Then drive to Pingyao.
- HangingTemple: 75km away from Datong, built about 1500 years ago at the foot of Mt.Hengshan, the temple was a structure that clings precariously to the side of the Mt.Hengshan range. Caves carved into the cliffs or along natural contours make up the rooms and walkways, and bridges connect the different halls. It is an immortal masterpiece of ancient architecture and a piece of crystallization of workmanship and
